Portfolio



E. GEE

PORTFOLIO March 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1961 [7% {ya 'ee INVENTOR.

BYWM@A/q AITO/F/VEV E. GEE

March 26, 1963 PORTFOLIO 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1961 United States Patent 3,082,567 PORTFQLIO Ethlyn Gee, 3450 Austin, Corpus Christi, Tex. Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,637 Claims. (Cl. 45129) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a portfolio.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portfolio for use by artists and the like, for carrying the necessary implements used by artists or art students.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portfolio :for artists and the like having novel means for carrying an easel and a wet canvas and convenient compartments for "brushes, paint and the like, that may be quickly converted from a carrying case to a utility stand in which the items essential to an artist or art student will be conveniently accessible.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the case in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the case in open position to illustrate the interior of the case.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the case in position for use as a utility stand, showing the wet canvas carrying side of the case, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the casein position for use as a utility stand, showing the folding compartment side of the case.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 1, 2 designate the two box like sections forming the hinged portions of the case which may be formed of any suitable light-weight rigid material having a back and projecting side members and suitable carrying handles 3, 3. A base board 4 forms the bottom of the case when in closed position and the sections 1, 2 are hinged to this base board 4 as by the hinges 5, 5 located on the sections at the joinder of the back and projecting side members and adjacent the outer side margins of the base board 4. Suitable clasps 6, 6 may be employed to releasably maintain the case in closed position.

Inside of the sections 1, 2 on the respective end walls thereof, there are the tubular leg receiving members 7, 7 which may be maintained in position by means of the clamps 8, 8 or other suitable retaining means. Ports are formed in the top wall of the sections 1, 2 in alignment with the leg receiving members through which the cylindrical legs 9, 9 extend. Pegs, as 10, are secured to the blocks 11, 11 as by a cord 12 which are employed to lock the legs in extended position by insertion into the ports 12 in the legs 9.

The legs 9 fit snugly into the tubular members 7 and will be provided with rubber tips as 13, 13 which act as stops when the legs are in retracted position.

Rods 14, 14 are secured to the eyebolts 15, 15 in the section 1 and the free ends of the rods 14, 14 are bent forming a hook to be engaged in the receiver 16 mounted in each end of the section 2 when the case is in the utility stand position. A receiver 17 is provided in the section 1 to retain the hook end of the rod 14 when the case is in closed position.

In the inside of the section 1 is a longitudinal partition 18. The compartment between the partition 18 and the side wall on which the hinges 5 are mounted may be employed to store a folding easel. Below the partition 18 and suspended therefrom by suitable hinges (not shown) is the rear framework 19 having suitable back "ice members 20, 20. A front framework 21 is hinged to the partition 18 by means of suitable hinges as 22, 22 adj acent the rear framework 19. The framework 21 is provided with longitudinal slots 23, 23 formed in the longitudinal side members. Vertical bars 24, 24 are mounted on the framework 21 by means of suitable bolts extending from the respective ends of the bars 24, '24, through the slots 23 and suitable wing nuts 25, 25 may be employed to anchor the bars 24, 24 in the desired position. A holding means, such as the strap 26 may be employed to maintain the frames against outward movement.

In the inside of the section 2 on the longitudinal side member is constructed a chamber 27, the ends of which terminate a sufficient distance from the end members of the section 2 to provide free movement of the legs 9. The compartment 27 may be provided with a suitable lid 28 which may be hinged to the back of the section 2 by suitable hinges (not shown), and which may be maintained closed by the closure snaps 29, 29. Folding trays 30, 30 are mounted on the back of the section 2 by hinges 31, 31 secured to the hinge blocks 32, 3 2 on the inside of the trays 30. Leather straps as 35, 3-5 are mounted on the back of the section 2 in position to receive the studs 33, 33 when the trays are folded against the back of the section 2. Backing strips as 34, 34 are glued to the outside of the section 2 opposite the position of the screws with which the hinges 31 are mounted.

The space above the partition 18 and the space above the top row of trays 30 provides storage area for a folding easel, and the trays 30 maybe of the length desired to accommodate brushes of various sizes and the compartment 27 may be used for storage of paints, varnish and other supplies.

In the section 1, the two frames 19, 21, may be swung outwardly and a pallet or sketchbook stored behind this framework, 19, and when it is desired to store a wet canva's, the framework 19 is swung back into the section 1, and the canvas placed on the framework 19 with the wet side to the outside, then the framework 21 swung against the framework 19, after the bars 24, 24 have been moved in the slots 23, 23 to bear against the margins of the wet canvas and the wing nuts tightened to maintain the bars in place. The frames 19, 21 are then strapped in place in the section 1 by the strap 26.

When in closed position, the case presents an attractive appearance, and the material of the case being light in weight will permit the user to easily carry all of the supplies needed by an artist or art student. To convert the case to a utility stand, the sections 1, 2 swing outwardly on the hinges 5, 5 and the legs 9, 9' may be quickly and easily extended and the pegs 10 mounted in the ports 12, and the rods 14, 14 released from the eyebolts :15

and mounted in the receiver 16 in the opposite section atv each end of the sections, and the trays 30 released from the retainers 32 and the case becomes a utility stand.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an artists portfolio, a case formed of two sections each having a back and marginal side walls, a base board to which said sections are hinged at the joinder of the back and marginal side walls and at the longitudinal side margins of the base board, one of said sections having trays hingedly mounted therein and the other of said sections having a pair of hingedly mounted frames for retaining a wet canvas therebetween when the case is in carrying position, legs mounted in said sections and extending therethrough, ports in said legs adjacent each end thereof and pegs mountable in said ports for maintaining said legs in position in said sections and for releasably locking said legs in extended position.

2. In an artists portfolio, a case formed of a base board and two sections hingedly mounted thereon in close abutting relation when in closed position and spaced apart when in open position, releasable closure mean for main? taining said sections in one position and handles on said sections, legs mounted in said sections and extending therethrough for supporting said sections when inranother position, a partition in one section, a pair of frames bingedly suspended from said partition, one of said frames having longitudinally adjustable vertical bars for con tacting and maintaining a wet canvas in said frames when the case is in carrying position, a series of foldingtr-ays mounted in, the other section and means for releasably maintaining said trays in folded position.

3. In an artists portfolio, a case formed of a base boa-rd :and two sections hingedly mounted thereon, said sections being in abutting relation when in one position and spaced apart at the hinged end when in another position releasable closure means for maintaining said sections in one position and handles on said sections, legs mounted in said sections and extending therethrough for support-' ing said sections when in another position, a partition in one section, a pair of frames hingedly suspended from said partition, one of said frames having longitudinally adjustable vertical bars for contacting and maintaining a wet canvas in said frames when said case is in carrying position, a series of folding trays mounted in the other section and means for releasably maintaining said trays in folded position, and a storage compartment in said last mentioned section, having -a hinged lid.

4. In a combination case and utility stand, a pair of sections, a base board on which said sections are hingedly mounted in abutting relation when in one position and spaced apart when in another position, closure means on said sections, and handles adjacent said closure means for carrying the'case when in closed position, trays hingedly mounted inside one of said sections movable outwardly when the sections are in the utility stand position, a pair of hinged frameworks suspended in the other section, said frameworks having means for retaining a wet canvas in storage between them, legs extending through one side wall of each :of said sections and extendable outwardly to form supporting means for said sections when in utility stand position ports in said legs adjacent each end thereof and pegs mountable in said ports for releasably locking the legs in position.

5. In a combination case and utility stand, a pair oi sections, a base board on which said sections are hingedly mounted in abutting relation when in closed position and spaced apart when in open position, closure means on said sections, and handles adjacent said closure means for carrying the case when in closed position, trays hingedly mounted inside one of said sections movable outwardly when the sections are in the utility stand position, a pair of hinged frameworks suspended in the other sections, said frameworks having means for retaining a wetcanvas between them, legs extending through one side wall of each of said sections and extenda ble outwardly to form supporting means for said sections when in utility stand position, ports in said legs and pegs movable into said ports to lock said legs in extended position a flexible line having one end mounted on one end of said pegs and the other end to said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,631- Osborn Jan. 15, 1924 2,405,955 Hunt Aug. 20, 1946 2,583,532 Havens Jan. 29, 1952 2,586,524 Dussardier Feb. 19, 1952 2 ,68( ),932 ROtSChild June 15, 1954 2,751,271 Dessertenne et al June 19, 1956 2,804,226 Freedman Aug. 27, 1957 2,935,812 Adami May 10, 1960 

1. IN AN ARTIST''S PORTFOLIO, A CASE FORMED OF TWO SECTIONS EACH HAVING A BACK AND MARGINAL SIDE WALLS, A BASE BOARD TO WHICH SAID SECTIONS ARE HINGED AT THE JOINDER OF THE BACK AND MARGINAL SIDE WALLS AND AT THE LONGITUDINAL SIDE MARGINS OF THE BASE BOARD, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING TRAYS HINGEDLY MOUNTED THEREIN AND THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A PAIR OF HINGEDLY MOUNTED FRAMES FOR RETAINING A WET CANVAS THEREBETWEEN WHEN THE CASE IS IN CARRYING POSITION, LEGS MOUNTED IN SAID SECTIONS AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, PORTS IN SAID LEGS ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF AND PEGS MOUNTABLE IN SAID PORTS FOR MAINTAINING SAID LEGS IN POSITION IN SAID SECTIONS AND FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID LEGS IN EXTENDED POSITION. 